Stoute scores in Gordon Stakes

Sir Michael Stoute’s good form of recent weeks continued at Glorious Goodwood on Monday, as the Barbadian trainer landed the Gordon Stakes with Harbinger.

The colt, who will be running in the St Leger later this year, romped to a 1¾ victory over Firebet. Urban Poet came home in third place.

“I was highly delighted with the performance because he has had his muscle problems and they take time,” Stoute told the BBC after the race. “He’s not an elaborate home worker and that makes it very difficult to get an edge on him. He’s lazy at home but he’s a lovely horse. I loved the way he travelled, he’s got some class.”

The trainer admitted to having some reservations about Harbinger’s ability to win the St Leger despite the fact that he was quickly priced favourite for that race following his victory.

“I don’t know about the Leger, when you look at his pedigree it doesn’t scream Leger horse. Let’s go to the Voltigeur and then we’ll see. There are 30-odd owners who I’ll have to talk to about it.”